Old Ohara House, Traditional merchant residence in Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, Japan
The Old Ohara House is a traditional merchant residence in Kurashiki built with wooden beams, tatami mat rooms, and sliding shoji doors. The layout combines living, storage, and business areas within one building that preserves the characteristic machiya design of this trading center.
The house was built in the middle of the 18th century when Kurashiki was an important trading and port center. It survived several periods of change and eventually became one of the finest examples of merchant dwellings from the Edo period.
The house shows how wealthy merchants lived and worked during the Edo period. The layout blends residential and commercial spaces in a way that reflects the daily life of that era.
The house is located in the old town center and is easily reached on foot from the train station. The rooms are narrow and low-ceilinged, so wear comfortable clothes and move carefully, especially when navigating the old corridors.
The house was originally the home of the Ohara family, who later assembled a notable art collection. Their personal passion for art left marks on how they arranged and used their living spaces.
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